BIG’s looping station design in Paris turns bridge into public space

Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group and French studio Silvio D’ascia Architecture unveiled new renderings of their competition-winning designs for a loop-shaped metro station in Paris. Created as part of Société du Grand París’ Grand Paris Express project, the Pont de Bondy station is one of 68 new stations planned for the redevelopment that will expand the existing metro system by 200 kilometers. The sculptural station will include a bridge and tunnel wrapped around a giant atrium next to the riverbank.

Located on Line 15, the knot-shaped Pont de Bondy station will be clad in eye-catching terra-cotta to stand out from its landscaped surroundings. An aboveground concourse occupies the heart of the station and a large glazed skylight funnels natural light to the underground levels accessible via escalators. Two wings extend from the atrium in different directions: one section passes beneath a flyover while the other serves as a bridge spanning the river.

“The Gare du Pont de Bondy continues the Parisian tradition of utilizing bridges as social spaces and cultural landmarks. Located at the encounter between the communities of Bondy, Bobigny and Noisy-le-Sec, the station is conceived as both bridge and tunnel wrapped around a giant atrium, connecting the riverbank to the train landing,” said BIG. “The deepest train tunnels will now open directly to the Parisian sky, and all three surrounding neighborhoods will be united in a single inclusive loop—a new architectural hybrid of urban infrastructure and social space.” The stations and lines of the Grand Paris Express and expected to open before 2030.